Complete biosynthesis of nicotine - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #metabolon assembly
- #nicotine biosynthesis
- #plant alkaloids
- The study identifies the final coupling reaction in nicotine biosynthesis, which is stabilized by glycosylation through a UDP-glycosyltransferase.
- Nicotine biosynthesis involves reduction and activation by A622, condensation via a stereoselective intermolecular Mannich-like reaction, oxidation by a berberine bridge enzyme-like (BBL) protein, and deglycosylation by a β-glucosidase.
- A 5-component metabolon assembles at vacuolar membranes to channel both nicotine biosynthesis and its transport, with reconstitution achieved in vitro and heterologously in vivo.
- Abrogating any of these components depletes nicotine accumulations, and a MATE transporter is essential for engineering nicotine production in heterologous plant species, conferring pest resistance.
- This work completes the nicotine biosynthesis pathway and provides insights into the intermolecular Mannich-like reaction, a key mechanism for scaffold formation in many plant alkaloids.